Fifty Shades of Scarlet

No, not that! At writing erotica. Anyway, I had an idea of writing an ebook of erotic shorts, each one in a different genre. I wrote my first short story, full of sexual tension and naughtiness.

But, then I felt really embarrassed and slightly dirty for having put that kind of stuff down on paper, so I abandoned it without its climax (in both senses!).

So, now my dilemma is; I feel bad that I have left the story unfinished but,I am kind of tempted to delete the whole thing. However, the writer in me wants to see if I can push myself through the embarrassment factor to finish it off. Also, I know that it is a market that pays well and well...

Erotica is a genre like any other and there is an audience for it. It's a brave writer who pushes through their comfort zone and puts in black and white those thoughts we all have but are afraid to admit. By all means experiment (pun intended).

My final thought, don't do it for the money. First and foremost write for you. Hope this helps.

Thank you Terri for your encouragement and advice. I will give it another go and finish the story but, I think perhaps I am not cut out for anything too explicit. I have been trying to write in different genres - I guess I am trying to find my 'true genre', if there is such a thing - (is there? perhaps that will be a different blog post.). x

I hear you. I've written everything from romance to science fiction trying to find something to land on, but I don't think it's necessary to settle on just one genre.Try it all, but write for you first. You are your first reader after all. Eventually you'll find your fit and if you don't, that's okay too. A writer writes.

I agree with Terri - try all things & see what you are good at. Publish erotica under a pen name if you are embarrassed! Anne Rice did this! Not saying she was embarrassed of course just that she used a pen name!

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